Clare Street used to be called Anchor Street. It was renamed in honour of the Chatteris soldier, George Clare, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross in the Great War. A blue plaque honouring George Clare was recently attached to the side of a cream house at the junction of Clare Street and Huntingdon Road.
Clare Street was badly affected by the Great Fire of Chatteris, which destroyed more than 70 homes in this part of the town in September 1864. A boy playing with touch paper near a wheat cob caused the fire, which started in West Street at 11 o’clock in the morning. Miraculously, although a number of animals died, no people were killed.
Photographs: now and then
Clare Street nameplate. Photo: Julie Smith 
George Clare (right). Photo: Chatteris Community Archive / Chatteris Museum 
Blue plaque to George Clare is unveiled. Photo: Chatteris Community Archive
Where is it?
Location and directions: Google Maps
Find out more
- Clare Street on Google Streetview
- Clare Street on the Chatteris Community Archive
- George Clare on the Chatteris Community Archive
- War hero who carried wounded soldiers to safety in World War One is remembered in Chatteris, Cambs Times article about the unveiling of the blue plaque for George Clare
- George Clare Wikipedia page
- George Clare biography on “VC Online”
- The Great Fire of Chatteris on the Chatteris Community Archive
- Great Fire of Chatteris Poems by local children
Taking a digital tour of Chatteris?
If you’re taking a Digital Tour of Chatteris, walk the entire length of Clare Street until you reach Huntingdon Road. Don’t forget to look for the blue plaque for George Clare on the way.
Across Huntingdon Road, opposite Clare Street, you’ll see a planter in the shape of a steam train. The train is named “Ormond”. It is a memorial to Chatteris in Bloom founding member Ormond Connolly.
Turn left and walk along Huntingdon Road, back towards town. On the right, on the corner of Linden Drive, is the Masonic Hall – our next stop.